Man charged with first-degree murder out on bail

The man charged with first-degree murder in the death of an Innisfail woman was granted bail last week.

Brian Malley, 55, was released on $10,000 bail and ordered to live with his wife and mother-in-law in Edmonton.

He is charged with first-degree murder, causing an explosion of an explosive substance likely to cause serious bodily harm, death or serious damage to property and sending or delivering to a person an explosive device.

The explosion occurred inside Victoria Shachtay’s residence on Nov. 25th in Innisfail. The incident occurred after a package was delivered to the residence which RCMP confirmed was the source of the explosion.

Malley was arrested in Red Deer on May 25th.

Shachtay, 23, was disabled and in a wheel chair from a car collision. She was also a single mother to a seven-year-old girl.

RCMP have confirmed Malley, who had worked as a municipal police officer in Alberta about 30 years ago, had known Shachtay for a number of years and acted as her financial adviser. However, they would not confirm that money was the motive behind the murder.

The six-month investigation into her death was led by the ‘K’ Division Serious Crimes Branch which is responsible for homicide investigations in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions. The investigation also involved support of the local RCMP detachment and many other support units, including the RCMP’s Post- Blast National Response Team, Explosive Disposal and Technology Section, Tech Crimes, Special Tactical Operations, Criminal Analysis Section, Special ‘I’ Surveillance Units and Forensic Labs in Edmonton and Ottawa.

At its peak, the investigation involved more than 70 investigators who worked thousands of hours to gather and examine evidence related to the murder.

“Investigations like this one are challenging, largely because of the complexity and the coordinated effort which is so critical,” Insp. Garrett Woolsey, operations officer with the Serious Crimes Branch told media at a press conference held in May, adding in his 24-year experience he has never seen a crime like this. “In this case, assistance from support and specialized units was significant. These arrests come as a result of that help and the relentless determination of our investigators to find those responsible for Victoria Shachtay’s death.”